HR Training Support Group

Winter has arrived in Maine. Minus the snow, but the cold sure has arrived. A bit of shock to the system since I was able to run in a short sleeved shirt a few days ago.

This morning when I woke up it was something zeroish, I hustled Porter outside and threw a log on the stove. After breakfast, Porter was ready for a walk, so we went down to check out the river.

Yup. It is definitely cold when slush is coming down the Kennebec River.

We got back from our walk, I threw another log on the fire and decided that I would wait until 1ish to do my run, guessing that it would be the warmer part of the day.

I was right, it warmed up to 15 (note how the above weather forecast says high of 16, feels like 4), which, I will admit, is much better than 1, feeling like -10 (this is me saying what it feels like, not the weather dude).

So I bundled up and headed out the door. Usually I warm up pretty quickly when I get running…BUT see I am working on HR training, zone 2 running – which I SWEAR means “expect to not ever get warm and actually get slightly hypothermic” running.

I headed out the door and the wind from the river took my breath away (OH! That is why it FEELS like 4!) For the first 3 miles, I ran slow and kept my HR within zone 2 all the way to the turn around.

At which point, I took 3 steps and my HR went from 142 to 159.

Crap. I walked. My HR climbed, went down, climbed. I let it get down to somewhere in the 120’s, took 2 steps, and it was back up to 160.

Grr.

I basically did this for 2 miles, walking 90% of it (can you say 15 minute mile?)

In running tights. At “feels like” 4 degrees.

At that point I was getting cold. I was angry. The thought of accidently throwing my HR monitor into the river occurred to me.

Instead, I just ran the rest of the way home without looking at it.

Frustrated. Note gritted teeth in the photo.

This run sucks, might as well take a picture

This HR training has me thinking I should join a support group for people like me who have never really trained using HR this way and have run their whole lives by feel.

We could commiserate about our slow paces, our fluctuating HR, our seething as we walk up hills staring incredulously at the HR monitor, tapping it to be sure it isn’t malfunctioning.

I get that there will be a payoff, but running like this (and walking so much) is a complete pain. Plus, I have to remember that stupid HR gadget thingy everywhere I go. This is no small task for someone who regularly forgets to pack her sneakers.

Then I actually have to look at the thing when I am running.

This is all very unnatural for me because I really prefer to run naked – meaning gadget free (you pervs).

I understand why I need to follow through with this (this is the why). Logan Franks also wrote a bit about it in his blog the other day – about how it has worked for him and helped him.

HR training is tougher than I imagined it would be, and I am not having an issue with this on the bike (could be because I am on a trainer so no hills). I am going to stick with it because I understand the gains that are to be had, but it is just proving to be a bigger challenge for me than I anticipated.

It sounds miserable in Maine! That is so much colder than the 30’s we’ve got in Michigan. I admire you for sucking it up and getting out there in the freezing cold. I really doubt I’d be out there running, because I’d be curled up with Porter by the stove! Good for you for sticking to the heart rate monitor training. Your coach knows best even if it sucks. Keep up the good work!

I understand how you feel using a HR monitor, I tried one for a while a few years back, when I wacked myself in the chest really hard with a crowbar (long story) and Doc wanted me to be careful for a while. At my age, the darn thing was always going off.

I know exactly where it is and haven’t used it for a long time.

It was cold this morning and that 10 mph wind out of the north made it feel like it was in the single digits, run was 17F up here in Augusta area. Feels like it is going to be a cold-butt winter for us Maineiacs who choose to run outside 🙂

Hi there – I’ve been meaning to write since you commented a while back on my blog about a hat I knitted. I’d be happy to email the pattern to you, just shoot me a message at almac001@hotmail.com
As for HR training, I have tried and then gotten too impatient. Even with a max HR of about 208 (crazy, I know but that’s just me? former running coach helped me figure it out during some track workouts.) I STILL have a hard time running in anything but zone 3 or 4.
Coworker of mine (ironwoman) has been hounding me to do more SLOW distance to work on that. Maybe that would be better in the summer when I’m trying not to overheat? Definitely pays to go fast in winter when trying to stay warm!

and here you thought it would be easy. winter HR training is a pain in the ass. My HR monitor is not accurate for 2 miles exactly every time. Not sure if it is the cold or if it is the layers that interfere, but it tells me at a 8:30 pace (my usual 140’s on my HRmonitor is 196 BPM hahaha).

But when it settles in, it is fine.

However, you are just starting this out and your body needs to adjust for a few weeks. I would dress warmer because you can always peel layers off. But keep in mind, your goal is way down the line, not instantly… and it helps to start this with a great aerobic base already (like 70.3 conditioning) …. which is kinda funny because you will feel like you will never get an aerobic base at these paces.

BUT, just keep in mind that these are the paces that your body is “comfortable” at and you are listening to your HEART now… NOT YOUR HEAD! Toss your ego and pride in that slushy river an stick with it 🙂

I’m not willing to admit I have a problem with HR so until then, I cannot join the support group …i will only bring you down with me, LOL!
I did the same thing you did yesterday, I waited until it warmed up before heading out to ride. In my case I waited until 2pm when the temp was 70* and I didn’t need any arm warmers. Don’t hate! If it makes you feel any better the wind sucked a$$.
Hang in there with the HR training; it’ll become more natural.

Wow that is some serious cold. That’s when I want to hit the treadmill. Actually, that’s about 3 months after I want to hit the mill.

I’ve always used percieved effort instead of an actual HR monitor, but I get the feel for the same theory. You can tell when your breathing gets more labored and the heart rate is up there, and you want to delay and smooth out the effort. It will get more consistent, give it time.

I started my 2012 NY resolution a little earlier and that is to be a little bit more scientific in my approach, so HR training is def. in the mix.

It sounds like you are getting a bunch of false positives on the readings…120-160? Unless you saw a pack of wolves running towards you I don’t see how your HR could spike in a matter of seconds. What was the AVG HR for the entire run?

I think my neck hurts thinking about watching that heart rate monitor. It almost seems like something that would make you feel compulsive about watching it cause you gotta follow the plan. I sorta wanna try it tho still 🙂

4 degrees! Holy crap that’s cold. I think just looking at the ice on the river made me shiver a little.

I will join your support group! I just started running with a hr monitor and I have to run a minute to a minute and a half slower than usual. It is SUPER annoying. But I am already starting to be able to run faster at the easier effort and I believe it will pay off in the long run. For the jumping around bit, try wetting your skin at the hr monitor before you leave the house. It can’t get a good read before you start sweating otherwise. My reading is sometimes 200 for the first mile when I don’t do this. Um, no.

I am doing very similar type of training right now, and I am trying to embrace the slowness. I find that if I let go of the pace or the feeling of being annoyed at how slow I am going, I really do enjoy the run. Also, a cold-weather tip for your HR monitor, wet it with a lot of spit before you head out and rub the strap and your shirt with a dryer sheet to cut down on the static. Keep up the good work!!

I know the feeling. I go anaerobic Zone 5 almost every time I jog, let alone run any length of time. There should be age group awards for those finishers who were anaerobic the entire race. I’d win every time!

HR training sucks at first no lie. What I will tell you to do is set your watch to the zone you are in and beep when you exceed it and this will allow you to run without constantly looking at it. By constantly looking at it your HR will spike b/c you are concerned about what you will see. If you just run and hear the beep then you slow down and if you don’t hear the beep you just keep on running.

I almost always leave off my HR strap on my Garmin because I find it uncomfortable! And geez, I thought my 23- feels-like-11 run was miserable, but after looking at your temps I feel like I shouldn’t complain!